Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

The Government of Malawi (GoM) through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) has received financing towards the cost of Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project. The NLGFC intends to apply part of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under the contract for hiring Social Safeguards Specialist on a three - year contract renewable annually based on performance and availability of financial resources or mutually agreed by both parties. NLGFC therefore invites applications from suitably qualified and interested candidates to fill the position of Social Safeguards Specialist at the NLGFC Offices. The terms of Reference (TORs) for Social Safeguards Specialist are as follows:

Responsibilities or duties

The duties will include but will not be limited to:

• Contribute to ES quarterly reports on the implementation of environmental and social management plans, ESIA, RAPs, stakeholder engagement, grievance management and other social safeguards matters to the PIT;
• Provide professional input/support to local authorities regarding social concerns into the planning, design and contracting of investments, including the preparation of tender documents and contracts;
• Support local authorities in conducting environmental and social screening in collaboration with the OHS and Environmental Safeguard Specialist.
• Support local authorities in developing and / or reviewing E&S Instruments including Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), Contractors ESMPs (CESMPs), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPS) of all sub-project activities implemented under district resilience sub-component in local authorities;
• In collaboration with other Environmental Safeguard and OHS specialists, design and deliver, or arrange for the delivery of the environmental and social capacity building program to local authorities’ staff. This program will include capacity gaps assessment with a focus on municipal councils, formal training sessions as well as on the job coaching. The purpose is to strengthen the capacity of local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to implement social safeguard requirements effectively within the context of larger GESD 2.0 activities;
• Supervise local authorities to document all land acquisition and resettlement activities, maintaining consistent and regular contact with Project Affected Persons to make sure that the resettlement delivery adheres to national legislation, Project RPF and World Bank ESF;
• Facilitate and provide oversight to the local authorities on the preparation and implementation of RAP(s), including ensuring that resettlement compensation for replacement of lost assets and land access, as well as livelihood restoration activities, are successfully carried out and all grievances are resolved in line with the Project RPF;
• Support eligible local authorities in implementing the Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP) including Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM). This includes preparation of project information materials in line with the SEP, disseminating the information and engaging with relevant stakeholders especially affected communities and Project Affected People (PAPs) to ensure enhanced project awareness, transparency and social accountability);
• Ensure the GRM is operational including establishing and training of Grievance Redress Committees, management of GRM database and timely resolution of grievances;
• Ensure that local authorities raise awareness of the GRM and GRM manuals are prepared in all local authorities, undertake periodic reviews of the functionality of the GRM and implementation of corrective measures;
• Support local authorities in undertaking site visits and reviewing contractors' compliance with site-specific CESMPs, Labour Management Procedures (LMPs), Codes of Conducts etc review of bid documents to ensure ESMP requirements are adequately included and costed as part of bid evaluation including determining and suggesting remedial actions in collaboration with the Environmental safeguard specialist and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) specialist;
• Oversee local authorities’ management of the day-to-day work of the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA)/Sexual Harassment (SH) to ensure mechanisms are in place to prevent and respond to SEA/SH cases in line with national legislation, SEA/SH Action Plan (developed as part of the ESMF) and World Bank Good Practice Note;
• Oversee the implementation of the SEA/SH action plan at district level, and subsequently monitor and review its implementation and support implementation of corrective actions;
• Follow up on the implementation of ESMPs and social risk management in operations at district levels through Environmental District Officers (EDOs) and other officers and ensure that social issues are addressed through sub-project lifecycle;
• Prepare non-compliance reports and track respective responses/actions undertaken to ensure closure; preparation of periodic Social Compliance Monitoring Reports in relation to ESCP, ESMF, ESHS Guidelines, and relevant Environment and Social instruments (ESIA, ESMP, etc.) requirements;
• Provide inputs and materials to communication strategy, knowledge products and dissemination of results;
• Jointly create interface between the Environmental Specialist, OHS Specialist, Project Engineers and M&E Specialist and enhance communication and interaction between the grassroots structures, the district, CSOs and the Sectors ensuring sensitization of responsible groups at all levels;
• Provide professional social risk management input to ToRs developed for recruitment of environmental and social assignments for the project, such as analytical work and audits;
• Ensure that vulnerable people such as the ultra-poor, women, people living with disabilities, People living with HIV and AIDS, Child headed households and people living with Albinism are not marginalized and affected negatively by the project;
• Undertake internal E & S Audits and support the consultants in the preparation of external E & S Audits and track the implementation of the corrective and remedial action plans by the district and municipal councils;
• Provide any necessary project management support as may be assigned by the Project Coordinator, including but not limited to participation in meetings with government officials and the World Bank and other forums related to the project; and submission of monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports to the Project Coordinator for subsequent submission to the Executive Director at the NLGFC and the World Bank task team; and
• Provide ad hoc support to other projects under the NLGFC regarding Social Safeguards activities as required.

Qualifications or requirements

The candidate should meet the following qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Gender and Development, Rural and Social Development Studies, or a related discipline;
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in the field of Social Risk Management, handling social aspects of planning, assessing and implementing social risk management, stakeholder engagement and grievance management on civil works projects of various scale;
• Working knowledge of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework and experience in successfully preparing ESIAs, ESMPs and RAPs to national and World Bank standards is considered an advantage;
• Experience with designing and delivering capacity building programs in the field of social safeguards and social risk management;
• Familiarity with issues related to GBV prevention and response in development.
• Familiarity with environmental, social and economic conditions prevailing in Malawi;
• Solid understanding of issues relating to local government systems in Malawi, construction management, reconstruction and conflict mitigation,
• Proven ability to coordinate stakeholder engagement activities including ability to speak persuasively and present ideas clearly and concisely;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and a fair understanding and speaking of Chichewa, as well as team participation and management skills;
• Strong organizational and communications skills and ability to interface with grassroots, district and sector players in the discipline;
• Strong team player;
• Demonstrated Computer Skill (Proficiency in using computer desktop application MS Office (Word, Excel and Power Point); and
• Upholding of anticorruption and antibribery ethics.

Experience needed

A minimum of 8 years of experience in the field of Social Risk Management, handling social aspects of planning, assessing and implementing social risk management, stakeholder engagement and grievance management on civil works projects of various scale.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

The assignment is expected to span a total period of up to three (3) years, with annual performance reviews and contract extensions subject to satisfactory performance. The Social Safeguards Specialist will be based at the NLGFC offices in Lilongwe. The Social Safeguards Specialist will occasionally be required to travel to all local government authorities in Malawi where the GESD 2.0 Project is implementing its activities to engage with district officials to guide and improve project implementation (social safeguards). The Social Safeguards Specialist will primarily report to the Project Coordinator with a technical reporting line to the Director of Social and Economic Services at NLGFC for technical matters, and will work in collaboration with local authorities and other specialists under the project, Environmental Safeguards Specialist, Occupational Health and Safety Specialist, and Project Engineers.

• Contribute to ES quarterly reports on the implementation of environmental and social management plans, ESIA, RAPs, stakeholder engagement, grievance management and other social safeguards matters to the PIT;
• Provide professional input/support to local authorities regarding social concerns into the planning, design and contracting of investments, including the preparation of tender documents and contracts;
• Support local authorities in conducting environmental and social screening in collaboration with the OHS and Environmental Safeguard Specialist.
• Support local authorities in developing and / or reviewing E&S Instruments including Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), Contractors ESMPs (CESMPs), Resettlement Action Plans (RAPS) of all sub-project activities implemented under district resilience sub-component in local authorities;
• In collaboration with other Environmental Safeguard and OHS specialists, design and deliver, or arrange for the delivery of the environmental and social capacity building program to local authorities’ staff. This program will include capacity gaps assessment with a focus on municipal councils, formal training sessions as well as on the job coaching. The purpose is to strengthen the capacity of local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to implement social safeguard requirements effectively within the context of larger GESD 2.0 activities;
• Supervise local authorities to document all land acquisition and resettlement activities, maintaining consistent and regular contact with Project Affected Persons to make sure that the resettlement delivery adheres to national legislation, Project RPF and World Bank ESF;
• Facilitate and provide oversight to the local authorities on the preparation and implementation of RAP(s), including ensuring that resettlement compensation for replacement of lost assets and land access, as well as livelihood restoration activities, are successfully carried out and all grievances are resolved in line with the Project RPF;
• Support eligible local authorities in implementing the Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP) including Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM). This includes preparation of project information materials in line with the SEP, disseminating the information and engaging with relevant stakeholders especially affected communities and Project Affected People (PAPs) to ensure enhanced project awareness, transparency and social accountability);
• Ensure the GRM is operational including establishing and training of Grievance Redress Committees, management of GRM database and timely resolution of grievances;
• Ensure that local authorities raise awareness of the GRM and GRM manuals are prepared in all local authorities, undertake periodic reviews of the functionality of the GRM and implementation of corrective measures;
• Support local authorities in undertaking site visits and reviewing contractors' compliance with site-specific CESMPs, Labour Management Procedures (LMPs), Codes of Conducts etc review of bid documents to ensure ESMP requirements are adequately included and costed as part of bid evaluation including determining and suggesting remedial actions in collaboration with the Environmental safeguard specialist and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) specialist;
• Oversee local authorities’ management of the day-to-day work of the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA)/Sexual Harassment (SH) to ensure mechanisms are in place to prevent and respond to SEA/SH cases in line with national legislation, SEA/SH Action Plan (developed as part of the ESMF) and World Bank Good Practice Note;
• Oversee the implementation of the SEA/SH action plan at district level, and subsequently monitor and review its implementation and support implementation of corrective actions;
• Follow up on the implementation of ESMPs and social risk management in operations at district levels through Environmental District Officers (EDOs) and other officers and ensure that social issues are addressed through sub-project lifecycle;
• Prepare non-compliance reports and track respective responses/actions undertaken to ensure closure; preparation of periodic Social Compliance Monitoring Reports in relation to ESCP, ESMF, ESHS Guidelines, and relevant Environment and Social instruments (ESIA, ESMP, etc.) requirements;
• Provide inputs and materials to communication strategy, knowledge products and dissemination of results;
• Jointly create interface between the Environmental Specialist, OHS Specialist, Project Engineers and M&E Specialist and enhance communication and interaction between the grassroots structures, the district, CSOs and the Sectors ensuring sensitization of responsible groups at all levels;
• Provide professional social risk management input to ToRs developed for recruitment of environmental and social assignments for the project, such as analytical work and audits;
• Ensure that vulnerable people such as the ultra-poor, women, people living with disabilities, People living with HIV and AIDS, Child headed households and people living with Albinism are not marginalized and affected negatively by the project;
• Undertake internal E & S Audits and support the consultants in the preparation of external E & S Audits and track the implementation of the corrective and remedial action plans by the district and municipal councils;
• Provide any necessary project management support as may be assigned by the Project Coordinator, including but not limited to participation in meetings with government officials and the World Bank and other forums related to the project; and submission of monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports to the Project Coordinator for subsequent submission to the Executive Director at the NLGFC and the World Bank task team; and
• Provide ad hoc support to other projects under the NLGFC regarding Social Safeguards activities as required.

• Proven ability to coordinate stakeholder engagement activities including ability to speak persuasively and present ideas clearly and concisely;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and a fair understanding and speaking of Chichewa, as well as team participation and management skills;
• Strong organizational and communications skills and ability to interface with grassroots, district and sector players in the discipline;
• Strong team player;
• Demonstrated Computer Skill (Proficiency in using computer desktop application MS Office (Word, Excel and Power Point);
• Upholding of anticorruption and antibribery ethics.

• Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Gender and Development, Rural and Social Development Studies, or a related discipline;
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in the field of Social Risk Management, handling social aspects of planning, assessing and implementing social risk management, stakeholder engagement and grievance management on civil works projects of various scale;
• Working knowledge of the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework and experience in successfully preparing ESIAs, ESMPs and RAPs to national and World Bank standards is considered an advantage;
• Experience with designing and delivering capacity building programs in the field of social safeguards and social risk management;
• Familiarity with issues related to GBV prevention and response in development.
• Familiarity with environmental, social and economic conditions prevailing in Malawi;
• Solid understanding of issues relating to local government systems in Malawi, construction management, reconstruction and conflict mitigation,